Management Tip of the Day: Be ready to tweak your speech

<p>A group of graduates gather outside the Sheldonian Theatre to have their photograph taken after a graduation ceremony at Oxford University, Oxford, England, May 28, 2011. REUTERS/Paul Hackett</p>

BOSTON (Reuters) - When delivering a speech keep in mind that speaking is different from writing. Prepare a rough outline and a conclusion and arrive at the venue early enough to grasp the mood of the audience, says Harvard Business Review.

The Management Tip of the Day offers quick, practical management tips and ideas from Harvard Business Review and HBR.org (www.hbr.org). Any opinions expressed are not endorsed by Reuters.

”Many people prepare for speeches by writing out the full text of their remarks and rehearsing to get the words exactly right. This often means you end up delivering a speech exactly as you wrote it, even if the audience isn’t responsive.

Speaking is different than writing. You need to connect with your listeners.

Prepare for your next speaking engagement by jotting down a list of four or five brief, key points and a concluding paragraph. Then arrive early enough to talk with people before your speech. This allows you to grasp the mood of the audience and tailor your points to its state of mind.”